BUSINESSES in the region are making better use of information and communications technology (ICT) than at any other time, a survey has found.

The International Benchmarking Survey has been used in the past by the Department for Trade and Industry to assess the extent to which companies are embracing ICT.

During the past three years, the North-East has climbed from the bottom of the league table to fifth place out of 12 regions.

Norma Foster, general manager of n-e-life.com, the regional web portal for businesses and the wider community, said: "As North-East businesses get better at using ICT, the gains in productivity are better understood than ever before.

"The importance of ICT adoption to the region's competitiveness cannot be underestimated and this report clearly indicates that we are getting better as a region and have improved significantly year on year."